A Star Of The East Shoots Into Infintity And Eternity

In the Indian tradition there three ways one can achieve moksha, or emancipation. They are the ways of Bhakti or piety, Gnana or knowledge, and Karma or action. One of these ways is sufficient for anyone to achieve self-emancipation or moksha. To put in Christian terms, one of these paths would take to salvation. In other words, people have different aptitudes and temperaments, but one of them would be more predominant in any person. When a person has a strong aptitude is for securing deep spiritual knowledge, he would receive moksha through the path of knowledge. When a person has a strong aptitude for deeper spiritual contemplation, he would receive moksha through the path of spiritual exercises like prayer and contemplation. When a person has a strong aptitude for working for others, he would receive moksha through the path of action. If a person possesses all these three aptitudes he has achieved self-realization as some one who has exemplified humanity, which is the ultimate mark of total humanity, and when he exemplifies humanity through these threefold path, he becomes a god. In other words, exemplification as a human being is the starting point of one’s divinity.

When we think of Holy Father Matthews II, he had the aptitudes for all these three ways (margas), and he definitely must have achieved perfection through these three paths. Definitely he has exemplified humanity, and has become a god. But Christianity is totally opposed to the concept of man becoming a god. But there is a biblically sound Christian theology that emphasizes a process called theosis or deification where humans become god-like.

Teilhard de Chardin, a great paleontologist and Jesuit thinker, who was mistakenly misunderstood by the Roman Church, says that we remain as animals until we reach Christ through convergence. Convergence is another theological way of embracing evolution, which Teilhard de Chardin, as a paleontologist, could not oppose. For Chardin Christ is the ultimate form evolution, towards Whom everything from inert matter to rational humans tend to converge. Christ is the example of real humanity, where humanity and divinity are proportionately combined. Our vocation is to become Christ-like so that we can become fully human beings. Although we cannot become Christs in the fullest sense, we can become humans in the fullest sense when we become Christ-like. When this convergence with Christ takes place a person becomes a SAINT according to Christian theology.

The fortieth day after one’s passing away is considered a milestone in the eternal plan of God for a human soul. Orthodox theology has patristic credence for a special memorial on the fortieth day after one’s passing way as it was on the fortieth day after His death and resurrection that Jesus the Lord ascended into heaven. Therefore, a fortieth day memorial has the cogency of tradition in view of the ascension of Jesus. Although it is not a dogma of faith, it is believed that the souls of the departed still linger around vicinities of their earthly abode for another forty days after their death, and are assumed into the paradise to pre-taste their heavenly reward. That is why the Church offers liturgies, prayers and acts of charities on their behalf for their glorification.

On the fortieth day after the demise of Holy Father Matthews II all the Churches under the Catholicate of the East conducted special services for the repose of his soul and also prayed to the Holy Father for his intercession for the members of the Church.

Thousands consider Moran Mor Matthews II a saint as his life was striving after perfection and after becoming Christ-like. Holy Father, may your prayers protect us. We also offer our prayers for your glorification and sanctification.

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